Gaige Accardi joined the ranks of Eagle Scout during a Court of Honor this weekend.

Accardi, 18, is a member of Troop 187 of Lehighton and a recent graduate of Lehighton Area High School.He is the son of Louis and Erin Accardi and Melanie Steigerwalt of Lehighton, and the grandson of Jeffrey and Dena Kistler.To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America, Accardi built a nesting and bird-watching area at Riverview Park in East Penn Township. This service project took approximately 154 hours to complete, from researching the area's native birds and habitats to staging the construction area and supervising volunteers."We were aiming toward bringing more wildlife to the area, especially birds and bats," he said. "I'm into nature. It's one of my passions."An important aspect of the project was to demonstrate leadership while organizing volunteers to help complete the project. Accardi received help from his troop members, family and friends, all of whom put in time toward building and installing 10 bird houses and six bat houses.During the Court of Honor, troop leaders noted that it is a lengthy journey to become an Eagle Scout. Scouts must be active within their troop and hold a leadership position. They must earn at least 21 badges, including 10 earned during the pursuit of Eagle Scout rank. Required badges include First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Nation and World (three separate badges), Emergency Preparedness, Lifesaving, and Sustainability. Scouts must also demonstrate that they live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law, and plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project that is helpful to the community.For his efforts, Accardi received recognition from both local and national Boy Scouts of America representatives. He was also recognized by the Pennsylvania state house, Lehighton Borough Council, and the East Penn Township Board of Supervisors.